Summer is coming. That means we will be seeing an average of 85 animals coming to our shelter every day, with some days topping 100.

There are many ways that community members can help us in our mission to reduce the numbers of homeless animals and help those in our shelters have a second chance at finding a loving household.

• Consider a rescue pet when it’s time to add a pet to your household. Many of our pets are perfectly healthy, well-socialized animals whose owners might have underestimated the responsibility that comes with owning a pet, or experienced life changes that prevented them from caring for their pet. Not only will you help save a life, but you’ll get a great bargain on a new pet that will be spayed or neutered and will go home with a rabies shot, a microchip and a license.
• License your pet. It’s the law. But it’s also the best way to make sure we can reunite you with your pets if they get lost.
• Donate. Supplying food, medical assistance, staff time, gasoline, utilities and other services costs an average of $17 per animal per day. Donations are accepted online for your convenience and you may designate your donation to help us with specific needs, such as spay/neuter services, adoptions, or community outreach.
• Volunteer. We couldn’t offer the services we do without the dedicated volunteers who assist families in finding the right pet and help our animals get exercise and socialization. We have 45-minute Open Houses coming up Thursday, April 25, and Saturday, April 27, where you will get all the information you need on how you can help animals in this community. For more information, call 243-5920.
• Share the word about Pima Animal Care Center. If you have friends or family members looking for a new pet, send them to our adoption center,4000 N. Silverbell Road, to see if we have the right addition to their household.

High quality, accessible healthcare and positive health outcomes should be available to all, regardless of race, ethnicity, income and geography.

With that goal not yet realized, Pima County Public Health Director Francisco García will serve on a national roundtable later this month designed to address persistent disparities in U.S. healthcare.

The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies has invited experts in health and social sciences to discuss how to best deliver on the promise of the Affordable Care Act to make health equity a reality for diverse patients, and particularly for racial and ethnic minorities.

“There are many complexities involved in addressing these historic gaps, but the implementation of the new health care law really provides a critical opportunity to do things differently,” Dr. García said. “As the health insurance marketplace is transformed in the coming years, and as we place an increasing focus on population-based preventive care and chronic disease management, we really have to redouble our efforts to eliminate these inequities. I look forward to the dialogue.”

Participants, who will gather in Connecticut for the intensive session, will focus on the development of programs and strategies to reduce disparities, including consumer engagement, public/private partnerships and the expansion of coverage.

Dr. Garcia’s clinical, research and policy expertise was cited as one of the reasons he was asked to sit on the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force earlier this year, which is an independent panel composed largely of primary care providers with expertise in prevention, evidence-based medicine and primary care.

Dr. García specializes in women’s reproductive health and practices at the University of Arizona Medical Center – South Campus, and holds a master’s degree in public health from Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Garcia recently sat down with Arizona Public Media to talk about health priorities. Please visit https://media.azpm.org/master/video/2013/4/9/qrhd/040913_public_health_director.mp4

With reduced health-care coverage for indigent Arizonans triggering increased costs for Pima County, the Pima County Board of Supervisors today voted to support Gov. Jan Brewer’s recommendation to expand the state’s Medicaid program.

Under the plan, people making up to 133 percent of the poverty level would be eligible for enrollment in the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, commonly referred to as AHCCCS. That would raise the cap from roughly $11,500 for a single person to about $15,000 and would add another 57,000 people to the rolls statewide.

More significantly, the plan would restore or continue coverage for nearly 300,000 childless adults. An assessment on hospitals would help fund the state’s share of the $154 million first-year implementation cost, but would rely most heavily on a draw-down of $1.6 billion federal matching funds.

The plan includes a provision that allows the state to repeal the initiative if the federal funding doesn’t come through.

Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry noted that the reduction in AHCCCS availability has already increased costs to the County. A review of jail bookings indicate that the percentages of people enrolled in AHCCCS dropped from 43 percent in July 2011 to 23 percent in July of the next year when the state started ratcheting back enrollment. As more individuals experience barriers in medical and behavioral care, he explained, they are more likely to destabilize. Ultimately, that leaves them more likely to end up in emergency rooms or in County-run detention facilities or being committed for involuntary psychiatric hospitalization, which is the County’s financial responsibility.

Plus, he noted, with the University of Arizona Medical Center – South Campus seeing a 13 percent increase in uncompensated care since 2009, the resources the County is providing to that campus are being consumed by that growing cost instead of allowing for the expansion or enhancement of services.

Supervisor Sharon Bronson said she has been in touch with a number of hospital administrators across the community that are forced to absorb the high cost of stabilizing and treating individuals who are presenting to the emergency rooms but aren’t insured and have no ability to pay. “I’m very concerned that the impact on hospitals is not sustainable,” she said.

To read the resolution in its entirety, please visit: http://www.pima.gov/cob/e-agenda/04092013/ADD1A_ResoMedicaidSupport.pdf

The Town of Marana will run its own sewer plant under a final settlement approved by the Pima County Board of Supervisors that will end a years-long conflict over wastewater.

The dispute has lingered since 2007, featuring an unsuccessful annexation attempt of the plant by Marana, as well as the passage of a state law allowing the transfer of the facility to the Town for just the cost of the outstanding debt,

The County extended settlement offers in December 2012, which hinged on Town voters agreeing that they wanted to be in the wastewater business. Voters provided that OK in March.

The settlement, which sets a purchase price of $18.2 million for the plant, also required the repeal of the state laws allowing Marana to take possession of the plant without paying full price. The laws were successfully repealed earlier this legislative session.

Under the agreement, Marana will operate the plant to serve areas in north Marana, while Pima County retains control and operation of the sewer system for the remainder of the town and surrounding unincorporated areas. The County will support the Town’s efforts to get beneficial use for as much effluent as possible that is discharged from the plant, minus certain requirements such as for tribal water rights settlements and conservation purposes.

Although Supervisor Richard Elías expressed concern that the agreement is a step away from regionalism, Supervisors Sharon Bronson and Ally Miller said they welcomed a stronger relationship in the future with Marana. Supervisor Ray Carroll agreed. “It brings local control to Marana. That’s what they wanted and they’re willing to pay for it. I do believe they should be careful what they wish for, but they have it now and I wish them all the success in the world,” Carroll said.

Marana Town Council member Roxanne Ziegler told Board members she will be thrilled not to have to go into more executive sessions to talk about wastewater. “It’s been a long haul. We’re five years into it…and we’ve had a lot of ups and downs and peaks and valleys,” she said, thanking the Board for its patience over the years.

Her Council colleague Dave Bowen echoed her sentiments. “We look forward to a great and amicable relationship in the years ahead,” he said, adding that he anticipates working together to complete projects that will be good for the citizens of Marana andPimaCounty.

Supervisor Bronson thanked the Town for entering into constructive dialogue with the County in recent months. “We’re looking forward to moving on to better things,” she said.

The Marana Town Council is expected to take up the issue at its study session this evening.

To read the settlement agreement in its entirety, please visit http://www.pima.gov/cob/e-agenda/04092013/ADDExecSessC_TownofMaranaSettlement.pdf

Job hunting can be challenging in the best of circumstances, but for those who have fled to America to escape war or persecution, there may also be barriers of language, culture and education to confront.

The Pima County Board of Supervisors agreed to allocate $34,000 to help refugees with job training and transportation, through a program run by Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona. The donation matches a similar grant from the Click Family Foundation. While the City of Tucson will not provide direct monetary support, it will provide in-kind services in the areas of transit, housing and parks and recreation.

The donation emerged from a community response group that was organized in September 2012 with the participation of Supervisor Richard Elías and other community leaders, including educators, business interests and church representatives.

Applauding the good will of the Click family and recognizing the leadership of Catholic Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas, Supervisor Elías said he was heartened that the County could do its part to help the growing refugee community. “Our refugees come from all over the world, but most typically from war-torn circumstances where their families have suffered great personal loss,” he said.

To find out more about how you can help Catholic Social Services in its goals to improve the lives of refugees, please visit http://www.ccs-soaz.org/Catholic-Social-Service-Migration-and-Refugee-Services.html.

Due to a national shortage of the Tubersol solution used for tuberculosis (TB) skin testing, the Pima County Health Department is following the guidelines of the Arizona Department of Health Services and temporarily suspending routine screenings normally offered at clinics as of April 15, 2013.

“By temporarily suspending routine screening for work, school, or in-home childcare businesses, the Health Department will ensure sufficient stock of Tubersol for testing those with symptoms, individuals from countries with high incidence of TB, or those who have compromised immunity,” said Dr. Francisco García, Health Department Director.

Health Department officials are uncertain when additional supply of the Tubersol solution will be made available but additional updates will follow on when routine screenings will be reinstated.

For more information, call the Health Department’s Tuberculosis Clinic at (520) 243-8450.

Routine TB skin testing is available through other providers in the community. Contact any of the following for more details:

TB skin testing is also available through local community health care centers, but you may need to be an established client first.  Call for details.

What do goats, tomato seeds, jumping jacks and worm composting have in common?

Not only can they all be part of a healthy lifestyle, but they will all play a role in the annual Let’s Get Fit Health and Wellness Fair at the Children’s Museum Tucson on Saturday, April 13, at 200 S. Sixth Ave.

Families can learn about the importance of incorporating aspects of healthful living into their lifestyles, from animal therapy, to gardening and exercise and cooking demonstrations. There will be an obstacle course for small cyclists, games, crafts, facepainting and information on nutritious eating.

The event will take place on the courtyard and lawn along 6^th Avenue between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Even better: the Museum will offer free admission all day long, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

The Pima County Health Department will offer demonstrations on what a healthy plate of food should look like.

“The Pima County Health Department is proud to sponsor and support the Let’s Get Fit event to highlight the multitude of resources here locally for families who are seeking ways to stay fit and healthy,” said Dr. Francisco García, the Pima County Public Health Director. “It is critical to reach children at a young age and support the development of healthy habits that will stay with them throughout their lives.”

For more information about the Let’s Get Fit fair, please contact Daniela Siquieros, marketing and membership manager at the Children’s Museum Tucson, at 520.792-9985, ext. 105. You may also visit http://www.childrensmuseumtucson.org/

Pets can help make a house a home, whether they’re hanging out on the couch, snuggling on your lap or playing ball in the yard.

It’s only natural, then, that Pima Animal Care Center will once again be offering adoptions at the SAHBA Home and Patio Show.

The show, which runs April 5-7 at the Tucson Convention Center, offers a great opportunity to give a great dog another chance at a happy life.

During the Fall Home and Garden Show, more than 30 dogs went home with new families – a record for offsite pet adoptions.

Adopt, don’t shop, and you’ll not only save a life, but you’ll get a great deal on your canine friend. No pet will cost more than $50, and that includes a rabies vaccination, licensing for one year, a microchip and spay/neuter services. If you don’t make the right connection at the show, ask us for a discount coupon that can be used for a future adoption over the spring and summer.

Parking is available at the Tucson Convention Center,260 S. Church Ave.

Our dogs will be available for adoption between 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Cat lovers should know that while they similarly bring plenty of love and panache to a home, they don’t travel as well as our dogs. Please come visit them at our adoption center at 4000 N. Silverbell Road between noon and 7 p.m. weekdays and between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekends or check us out online at www.pima.gov/animalcare.

In fairy tales, princes sometimes do the rescuing, but in real life, at least one particular Prince was rescued by a group of schoolchildren and teachers.

A handful of Rio Vista Elementary School students were enjoying time at nearby Limberlost Park while on spring break when they found the lost Boxer mix.

Concerned, they called Pima Animal Care Center and waited with the dog, hugging him and petting him, until an officer came to take him to the shelter. The first day back at school, they shared the story and their cell phone videos with their reading tutor, Cindy Hayden.

“The kids were very protective of him and did the right thing by making sure he was taken care of,” Hayden said. The class tracked his progress on the shelter website, waiting to see if his owner would redeem him. When no one did, Hayden started trying to find a home for him.

It turns out kindergarten teacher Kellie Walsh was ready for another pet, after her Boxer passed away last year.

Walsh, a teacher for about a decade, said she was touched by Prince’s story and the commitment of the children. Since going home with her Thursday, and getting a bath and some love, the rather aptly named and regal 6-year-old is getting to know her extended family. “He’s a very sweet dog,” she said.

He’ll almost certainly be greeted as a hero when he visits his student rescuers later in the school year, but in the interim, he’s inspiring some of the curriculum. Walsh told her story Monday morning to inspire her writing session with the students, while Hayden’s students will be writing a storybook about the Dog Prince, chronicling his adventures, and potentially entering the work in a writing contest.

“These students are a great example of how we all have a role to play in making a difference for animals in this community,” said Kim Janes, Manager of Pima Animal Care Center. “It’s going to take working together to make sure all animals have loving homes and we’re confident Prince will live happily ever after with his new family.”

Emerging technology that can help detect diseases and help doctors pinpoint therapeutic interventions to keep patients healthier longer will be key to capitalizing on the region’s expanding biosciences market, according to a new study.

With the region already home to leaders in the biotech arena, such as Ventana Medical Systems, Sanofi and others,PimaCountyapplauds the new strategy unveiled by Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities that identifies a new recruitment and retention focus on medical diagnostics.

County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry said developing a critical mass in the biosciences will be important not only for the synergy created when companies can share talent, facilities and infrastructure, but for four primary reasons:

• Diagnostics has significant potential for economic benefit, which is why Pima County has already made substantial investments to support this emerging niche. Pima County supported the recent expansion of Roche by forgiving roughly $8.3 million in property taxes. More recently, Pima County invested in wet lab space to secure the relocation of the new corporate headquarters of the bioscience company Accelerate Diagnostics. Such investments are paying off. Accelerate, which held its grand opening mere weeks ago, has already hired 30 employees and is recruiting for more than a dozen other positions. The average annual wage for its research and development team: $102,040.
• Fast, accurate diagnostics strengthen public health and wellness in a multitude of ways. Depending on the application, they can be used not only to diagnose and monitor disease, but can have predictive capabilities that can help evaluate future risk of illness. With one of Pima County’s core priorities ensuring the health and wellness of our community, the Pima County Health Department provides services that support the health, safety and well-being of our residents
• Earlier diagnoses can help reduce the costs of care associated with hospitalization by making sure patients have more information about managing and preventing chronic illness. As a partner with University Medical Center– South Campus, Pima County is supportive of such efforts to lower costs and improve patient outcomes.
• The more timely and accurate the diagnoses, and the more that treatment plans can be tailored to individual patients, the stronger the likelihood that fewer unnecessary tests and ineffective services will be ordered. As a consumer of health care for employees, Pima County supports all of the puzzle pieces that work together to rein in the ever-increasing cost of health care.

“Not only are these new technologies breaking ground in providing effective patient care, but they represent a new frontier in economic development that really meshes with our regional strength in biosciences,” said Pima County Supervisor Sharon Bronson, who sits on the TREO board. “We look forward to working with our other partners in the region to help target the growth of this industry.”

To read the full report, please visit http://www.treoaz.org/media/docs/Reports/Diagnostics-Strategy-FINAL-3-25-2013.pdf